Family Update

I guess I want to start with how wonderful it was to see everyone at Easter. The oldsters; the youngsters; and the in-betweensters, enjoying each others company and sharing news brings home again how lucky we are to belong to such a warm and wonderful family.

I get sad when I think that by moving to Ottawa we will be losing out on all the fun times but then as long as gas doesn't climb to $2 a litre and Mom and Dad don't turn the guest room into a Turkish spa room or something else equally exotic (you never know with those two!) we will plan to make as many of the "events" as possible. And of course you know that the new Maison de Lawley is being set up to be "user" and guest friendly so we are hoping to see all your smiles grace our doorstep.

My new "drawer a day" approach to the move has its downside - emptying a drawer to sort for give aways and garage sales means that counters, tables, indeed every available surface and container is jammed packed with my sorted materials. The place looks more cluttered and messy than it did before cleaning - how is that possible? Every garbage day is an opportunity to divest of such things as: curling irons that don't heat up, lamps with broken bases, table tops with no legs, souvineer wine bottles, campy beer bottles, plastic bottoms with no tops, plastic tops with no bottoms, 10 year old magazines: what type of "loonie toons" hang on to these things??? I believe that there must be a 12-step program somewhere: Pack Rats Anonymous? Become a Divestor in 12 Easy Steps? that might help with our complusive behaviour.

Our yard sale date is Saturday of the May long weekend. Until then, we walk with caution.

Matt is in Ottawa as I write this, feverishly training in the ways of
"toddlerhood". He is to be Liam's caregiver for the next week. Hope and Gregg are losing their caregiver in July when her husband is transfered to Toronto and they are going next week to look for accommodation. Hope has just come back from Cuba and both have missed so much work with sick kids over the winter that it just seemed to much to take this week off too. So here comes "Uncle Buck". Nanny of the new millennium. I'll keep you posted with his adventures.

Sarah and Steven have made the big leap and have officially formed a family unit. Ethan is over the top at having "brothers" and Nick and Max are thrilled with their new bunk beds. Sarah and Steve have been doing the same things that we have: deciding what to keep, what to garage sale and what to toss and they are exhausted with moving, packing, furniture buying, and decision making. But Pete and I know that they will be very happy with their move and wish them a big congratulations! How wonderful to have such a large and happy family to come home to every night.

Well, it's a bright sunny day. A warm wind is blowing and it's perfect for being outside - so what am I doing at the computer?
Enjoy the day.
Debbie